"Fighting is 90% mental"

[DWx]

Ok so I figured everyone would agree that the mind is a very important aspect, whether we are talking fighting for self defence or as a combat sport. But is the 90% figure accurate? Is it really such a large part or are we dismissing the physicality of the fight? If fighting is mostly mental why do we go to the gym and train so hard?

[DWx]

"Fighting is 90% mental"

Plenty of fighters have said this but how true is it?

Very true. But not for the reasons people think.

A better saying might be: "The will to win is useless without the will to prepare."

How often have you skipped a practice or only did very little at practice because... any reason that wasn't an actual physical injury?

All of those add up. And the people who can make themselves continue to put in the effort day-in and day-out, for whatever reason, are the ones that, as they say, git gud.

They are also the ones that have the discipline to stick to a diet and make weight for competition.

It all adds up. It's not any one thing. But the combination of psychological factors that effect your preparation for fighting that add up to that 90% mark.

This is a really good point. The battle is about getting yourself to training and pushing yourself.

[sensei8]

Ok so I figured everyone would agree that the mind is a very important aspect, whether we are talking fighting for self defence or as a combat sport. But is the 90% figure accurate? Is it really such a large part or are we dismissing the physicality of the fight? If fighting is mostly mental why do we go to the gym and train so hard?

I believe that the number is quite accurate because, again, without the thoughts and then some, action is mute. Can't do anything without the mental being that much involved!!

Physicality can't survive without the mind; it's a Catch-22, however, the mind's involvement is everything. No thought; no actions!!

Both, the physical as well as the mental, still must be trained; not one more than the other, but conspirators of intent. The mind thinks; the body executes!!

[OneKickWonder]

Ok so I figured everyone would agree that the mind is a very important aspect, whether we are talking fighting for self defence or as a combat sport. But is the 90% figure accurate? Is it really such a large part or are we dismissing the physicality of the fight? If fighting is mostly mental why do we go to the gym and train so hard?

Indeed. Why do we train so hard? Why do we choose to do hard work that is not technically necessary, often to the point of significant and prolonged physical discomfort? It would be so much easier to just lounge on the sofa drinking cold beer would it not?

We work so hard because in our mind, we have a vision of what we are trying to achieve. The mind drives us. The body is a slave to the mind. A weak mind will fail to control the body and laziness and bad habits will take over. When we physically train hard, we are also mentally training. We train ourselves to not slow down just because we're hurting and every part of our body is saying 'stop, it will be easier'.

[Zaine]

Ok so I figured everyone would agree that the mind is a very important aspect, whether we are talking fighting for self defence or as a combat sport. But is the 90% figure accurate? Is it really such a large part or are we dismissing the physicality of the fight? If fighting is mostly mental why do we go to the gym and train so hard?

I think we need to ask "What part is mental?" The phrase, as you mentioned, is so pervasive throughout MA culture that it is one of those things that we accept without too much thought. It makes sense at the "gut check" level. We hear it and think "yeah, that checks out." But what about it checks out? I think this is what you're leading us towards in this conversation (I could be wrong). Let me add on to this then:

What part is mental?

I don't think we can say it's the actual fighting part. We train very hard to make that muscle memory and instinctual. Instinct is not mental it's reactional. Is it the ability to let go of the fear and let this training take over? Is it the part of our brains that lets us choose "fight" when we have to?

[MatsuShinshii]

Ok so I figured everyone would agree that the mind is a very important aspect, whether we are talking fighting for self defence or as a combat sport. But is the 90% figure accurate? Is it really such a large part or are we dismissing the physicality of the fight? If fighting is mostly mental why do we go to the gym and train so hard?

I wouldn't place the number that high but it is a high percentage.

If you think in terms of resolve and intention it plays a large factor. If you are not resolved to fight to the end you have already lost the fight. If you do not have the intention to do whatever it takes and yet your opponent does, they will win more times than not. Yes there is always the lucky shot factor but mentality plays a huge role in the outcome of a fight.

When you take into account the countless hours of training where the responses become second nature, again this is the mind. The mind recognizes a pattern and reacts without taking the time to analyze and choose the proper response. The Japanese call this Mushin but it is really your subconsciousness recognizing a pattern and responding with minimal or no thought. Again the mind playing a huge role.

I have no idea what the percentage is nor will I attempt a guess. However the mind plays a huge role in not only the aforementioned but also in knowledge of the applications and techniques, calculating how to use and what to use, and developing a strategy and execution.

Obviously you must have the physical abilities but the mind is what puts those abilities into action.

[DWx]

Ok so I figured everyone would agree that the mind is a very important aspect, whether we are talking fighting for self defence or as a combat sport. But is the 90% figure accurate? Is it really such a large part or are we dismissing the physicality of the fight? If fighting is mostly mental why do we go to the gym and train so hard?

I think we need to ask "What part is mental?" The phrase, as you mentioned, is so pervasive throughout MA culture that it is one of those things that we accept without too much thought. It makes sense at the "gut check" level. We hear it and think "yeah, that checks out." But what about it checks out? I think this is what you're leading us towards in this conversation (I could be wrong). Let me add on to this then:

What part is mental?

I don't think we can say it's the actual fighting part. We train very hard to make that muscle memory and instinctual. Instinct is not mental it's reactional. Is it the ability to let go of the fear and let this training take over? Is it the part of our brains that lets us choose "fight" when we have to?

I'm not necessarily leading us down any path more that I think we as martial artists (myself included) hear these phrases and adages and just agree with them rather than look deeper.

I have a problem with the 90% claim. Not that I doubt mentality is important, but I think other things come into play too and that winner or loser isn't determined by mindset alone. If we look at self defense for example, I would argue that when it comes to real self defense, a real life or death situation, you're going to find that everyone wants to survive, everyone has that drive to make it out alive. It's against human nature not to try to preserve one's own life.

So what determines the winner or loser in that situation? Mentally I can really want to make it out of that situation but if I don't have the tools to do it I'm going nowhere fast.

Forgetting self defense, we can look at fighters who must fight to put food on the table e.g. young Thai boxers. The will and determination is there but with that alone they won't go far.

[bushido_man96]

Ok so I figured everyone would agree that the mind is a very important aspect, whether we are talking fighting for self defence or as a combat sport. But is the 90% figure accurate? Is it really such a large part or are we dismissing the physicality of the fight? If fighting is mostly mental why do we go to the gym and train so hard?

I think that a major component that comes along with the "mental" aspect of fighting is the discipline required to train. That's what drives fighters to get to the gym, to watch their diet, to make weight, etc. And it takes a lot of mental strength to maintain that discipline in training.

[Higher Self]

I agree that the mental aspect of fight survival is huge. With that said, I agree with bushido_man96, in that any number you pick is just arbitrary and could never be quantified in this way. With that said, I think it is quite important to have a balance of both physical and mental acuity. They are both necessary for success in the self-defense arena.

[italian_guy]

I think its popular to throw out that 90% number, but I'm not sure how accurate that is, because being in good physical shape is important, as well. But, I do think that the larger portion of the fight is mental, as there are so many mental hurdles to get over in order to actually engage another human in combat.

I tend to agree with bushido_man. Mindset is important but 90% is maybe exagerated, technique, physical shape with the appropriate preparation is very important. I would say a more conservative 50-50% between mind and body (including muscle memory).

Having said that, I think that in martial art schools we do not have enough mindset training.